Interview: Why Cell C supports the Woan

Thank you for listening to the TechCentral podcast. In this episode, Duncan McLeod talks to Cell C chief strategy officer Robert Pasley and chief legal officer Graham Mackinnon about the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill and why the mobile operator is strongly supportive of a plan by the government to create a wholesale open-access network (Woan).

In the podcast, Pasley and Mackinnon explain why Cell C believes the Woan is potentially a very good way of breaking the dominance of Vodacom and MTN in South Africa’s cellular industry, creating a more level playing field for smaller operators and allowing new entrants into the industry.

The discussion goes into detail about how Cell C believes a Woan should be structured and how it should work. It also touches on how much spectrum Cell C thinks the Woan should get and why, and why Vodacom and MTN should not be denied access to new exclusive-use spectrum to continue rolling out their networks.

Graham Mackinnon

Pasley and Mackinnon also explain why they believe open access is important to foster greater competition in South Africa’s mobile industry.

It’s a fascinating discussion about what the future of the telecoms industry could look like in South Africa. Don’t miss it!

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